<p>My son is a junior in high school. He took the SAT and ACT without any preparation and scored 2070 and 31 respectively. His GPA is only 3.7 in a high school a very high achieving kids. He is obviously underachieving in school. Will these test scores make up for his relatively low GPA and get him into UCLA, Cal or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo?</p>
<p>Cal and UCLA may be a reach, but it depends on the applicant pool. SLO might be a match, but is becoming increasingly tough to get into. Remember, at SLO, your son must declare a major and be accepted in the major. They can't really change while there either. To get into Cal and UCLA, he will need killer essays and EC's and probably. The UC's have a formula for admissions that is very cut and dry, but it's all about the applicant pool. If you S is intersted in SLO, he should look at some of the other UC's where he will have a better chance. UCSB, UCI are probably a better match. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Kennysmom,
The UC's and Cal States use their own formula for computing GPAs for admissions -- if you are not yet aware of that formula, I'd suggest you start by going to this website and seeing how your son's UC/Cal State GPA will pan out: <a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergraduate.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergraduate.html</a></p>
<p>In addition, for the UC's, your son will also need two SAT subject exams - no one can really guestimate his chances without those. The above website will also give you information on the way the UC's weight other factors in admissions (it is not just about GPA and test scores for the UCs like it is for the Cal States), and that should give you a clearer picture of where he might stand in the applicant pool.</p>
<p>That said, every student needs to have a list that includes a mix of different selectivities -- so, in addition to the three schools you mentioned, you should be encouraging your son to broaden his horizons and look at other schools as well. He sounds like he will be in good shape for MANY colleges and universities -- please don't think that a 3.7 GPA is an "underachieving" one. It is actually a very good GPA in the grand scheme of things.</p>
<p>I just sent you a PM with some other ideas -- you can find it in the upper right hand corner of your screen.</p>
<p>kennysmom - Is his HS on a 5.0 scale? If not, a 3.7 is darned close to perfect. I can't believe that anyone with a 3.7 would ever be considered an underachiever. An SAT of 2070 is at the 96th percentile; I'd guess that a GPA of 3.7 is about the same.</p>